I’m not sure whether it’s my background as an elementary school teacher, or simply a desire to connect with my inner child, but holiday traditions are one of my favorite aspects of parenting. Each spring, our family looks forward to our numerous Easter traditions including dying Easter eggs, attending a community egg hunt, visiting the Easter bunny, daily readings from our Easter Story Egg during Holy Week, and—perhaps our favorite of all—Easter baskets! In our home, we follow the Easter basket tradition that my parents introduced to me when I was young.

On the night before Easter, my son sets out a basket filled with plastic eggs for the Easter bunny to fill and hide. The next morning, the eggs (now stuffed with stickers and candy) are hidden around the house for my son to find, and the basket that had previously held empty plastic eggs has been filled with an abundance of goodies!

I’m told this basket tradition is rather unusual, but regardless of your particular tradition, I know that most Easter-celebrating children do look forward to a basket of treats on Easter morning. Easter baskets are often filled to the brim with candy and sweets, and though there’s nothing wrong with including a chocolate bunny, a package of Peeps, or a Cadbury egg or two in your child’s Easter basket, I think we can all agree that less is best when it comes to Easter morning sugar.

If you’re looking for some creative Easter basket fillers that won’t elicit a sugar rush, I’ve got you covered! Below, divided into several outside-the-(candy)-box categories, are more than 150 ideas for Easter basket fillers your kids are sure to love.

EASTER BOOKS

I love to incorporate themed books into every holiday, and my son’s Easter basket always includes at least one Easter book. These are some favorites.

RELIGIOUS BOOKS:

SECULAR BOOKS:

OUTDOOR FUN

With the weather finally warming up, Easter is a great time to bring some new outdoor toys and activities into your home.

  • Bubbles
  • Small Kite
  • Bucket, Shovel, or Small Sand Toys
  • Frisbee
  • Paddle Ball Set
  • Jump Rope
  • Sidewalk Chalk
  • Goggles
  • Seed Packets for Planting
  • Small Watering Can
  • Kid-Sized Gardening Gloves
  • Snorkle
  • Pool Diving Rings
  • Binoculars
  • Walkie Talkies

RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES

Balance out those outdoor items with some goodies suitable for windy, rainy days.

  • Deck of Cards
  • Travel-Sized Board Games
  • Bathtub Crayons
  • Small Bath Toys
  • Portable Games like Spot It, Dominoes, or Bannanagrams
  • Mini Lego Kits
  • Mini Jigsaw Puzzles
  • DVDs
  • Hot Wheels Cars
  • Action Figures
  • Trading Cards
  • Letter Magnets
  • Pattern Blocks
  • Hand Puppets
  • Magna Doodle
  • Animal or Dinosaur Figurines

RETRO ITEMS

Incorporate a touch of nostalgia in your kids’ Easter baskets this year!

ARTS AND CRAFTS

I’ve never met a kid who doesn’t love a chance to get creative with a set of new art supplies or a unique new craft.

MUSICAL GIFTS

If your child has an interest in music, a small instrument or other musical gift is the perfect Easter Basket filler.

PRACTICAL ITEMS

Personally, I’m a big fan of giving and receiving practical items as presents. Sometimes, practical gifts are the items my son loves most.

  • Sunglasses
  • Baseball Cap or Beach Hat
  • Thermos
  • Flash Light
  • Beach Towel
  • Bento Lunch Box
  • Collapsible Umbrella
  • Night Light
  • Alarm Clock
  • Silicon Place Mat
  • Crazy Straws
  • Kid-Friendly Camera
  • Piggy Bank

CULINARY GIFTS

Fun foodie items make excelling Easter basket fillers for the aspiring chef!

FOR THE LITTLES

Is there anything better than the thought of a baby’s first Easter basket? You can have so much fun with this!

FOR TWEEN AND TEEN GIRLS

Let’s not leave out the older kids. Don’t let your tween or teen daughter trick you into thinking she’s too cool for an Easter basket—these are fillers she’ll actually want.

FOR TWEEN AND TEEN BOYS

This category is a little tougher. When all else fails, load up his basket with gift cards or healthy snacks!

EASTER WHIMSY

Just because their baskets aren’t overflowing with Easter candy doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate some Easter-y touches.

What will you be including in your kids’ Easter baskets this year? Did I miss anything? Add your ideas in the comments! 

Kendra Jernejcic
Kendra Jernejcic
http://KendraNicole.net
Kendra is wife to Luke and grateful SAHM to Charleston (2015) and twins Sullivan and Kalinda (2019). Born and raised in Southern California, she has called Texas home since 2016. Kendra is a hopeless bibliophile, an avid podcast listener, an Enneagram enthusiast, and a big fan of lists. Kendra’s “Good List” includes (but is not limited to): Jesus; long walks with her Labradoodle, Arlo; intense but compassionate conversations about faith, philosophy and other slightly pretentious topics; wearing ALL the accessories; and guzzling Diet Dr. Pepper like it's her job. Kendra writes about life, faith, books, and her own perfectly imperfect motherhood journey on her blog, KendraNicole.net.

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